The status of patient education programs in twenty East Tennessee hospitals

Data concerning patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals were collected and analyzed. The data were collected through utilization of a questionnaire developed by the investigator.

The following research objectives directed the study:

1. Identification of levels of administrative responsibility for patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.

2. Identification of types of patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.

3. Identification of planning procedures for patient education programs.

4. Examination of implementation procedures for patient education programs and barriers to the implementation of the programs.

5. Examination of the utilization of media in patient education programs.

6. Examination of assessment and evaluation procedures for patient education programs.

Analysis of the data enabled the investigator to draw the following conclusions:

1. Patient education is a part of the patient care process in East Tennessee hospitals.

2. Hospitals in East Tennessee have initiated and implemented the same types of patient education programs as other United States hospitals.

3. The Nursing Department is primarily responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.

4. Few hospitals disciplines are represented on the patient education committee.

5. Personnel responsible for the development of patient education programs are usually nurses who have little preparation in the field of education.

6. Few East Tennessee hospitals had separate budgets for patient education.

7. Few East Tennessee hospitals had staff members whose sole function is to develop patient education programs.

8. There is little evidence of the utilization of needs analysis data in program planning.

9. Unstructured verbal instruction is the most frequently utilized teaching method in East Tennessee hospitals.

10. Although audiovisual materials are often utilized for portions of patient education programs, there are few hospitals who have staff members whose function is to produce these programs.

11. Nurses have the responsibility for most of the direct patient teaching in the hospitals.

12. There is no serious attempt to assess the learning needs and characteristics of the patients.

13. There is little evidence of formative evaluation of patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.

14. There is no organized summative evaluation process for patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.

The investigator developed recommendations for improvement of patient education programs in East Tennessee hospitals.